It’s been another weird offseason for the Missouri Tigers softball team, you guys. Just as quickly as Jason Gwyn was brought in May 2025, he was gone. Sir, we barely knew ye, but your impact was felt in CoMo. Gwyn was largely responsible for accumulating the yet-to-be-signed Class of 2027 as the recruiting coordinator and was the man behind the Tigers’ nationally recognized defensive prowess. The 2025-26 Tiger team wasn’t great at a whole lot, but their defense was top notch and despite what head
coach Larissa Anderson alluded to in her press conference, the team’s epic meltdown against Auburn in the SEC tourney most definitely can’t be placed solely upon the defense. Alas, things might not have been so rosy behind the scenes, and he exited the program after the team’s unceremonious exit from the SEC Tournament without so much as a notification to the public from the athletic department, thus leaving a spot open for a new coach (it was announced yesterday that Gwyn was moving to that school to the west).
Enter Ohio State assistant and Mizzou alum — and Tiger softball manager for two seasons in the mid-2010s! — Matthew Guemmer, who will, per the release, oversee the outfield defense and have recruiting oversight.
At Ohio State, Guemmer played a pivotal role in the team’s success. Per the OSU Athletics site, during his first season, the Buckeyes finished 45-14-1 and had the nation’s top statistical offense, leading the country in home runs (147), runs scored (495), slugging percentage (.701), and walks (280). They had a .964 fielding percentage. In 2026, the 26-27 Buckeyes batted .307 as a team with a 1.045 OPS, 332 runs scored, and 119 home runs with a .947 fielding percentage. The 2024-25 team earned him accolades as a part of Softball America’s best staff in the nation and by the NFCA as members of the Great Lakes Regional.
Prior to his time at tOSU, he served as an assistant at Rutgers for two seasons, mainly coaching the outfield defense while assisting with hitting and other defensive roles in back-to-back 30-win seasons that featured a Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection in each. Prior to that, he spent three seasons at SEMO as an assistant, again primarily coaching the outfield and hitting, while also assisting with infield defense and pitching. Here, he also helped them get back-to-back 30-win seasons and a 2021 OVC regular-season title, among other things.
Of the hire, Missouri head coach Larissa Anderson said in the press release:
“Bringing Matt back to Mizzou is a tremendous addition for our program. He is a Tiger through and through, and his passion for this university, our softball program and the people of Missouri runs deep. Matt was part of our program in 2012 and 2013, and since then he has established himself as one of the most respected coaches in the country through successful tenures at Virginia Tech, Rutgers and Ohio State. His experience, work ethic and ability to build meaningful relationships will have an immediate impact on our student-athletes. We are excited to welcome him home and know he will play an important role in the future of Mizzou Softball.”
Guemmer joins a staff that includes Larissa Anderson, who enters a pivotal and perhaps career-defining ninth season with the Tigers after missing the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons for the first time since this writer was in college at Mizzou (i.e. it was a while ago, guys), Bella Norton (assistant coach, third season), Jake Epstein (hitting coordinator, second season), Emma Raabe (second season), and Connor Mammola (pitching coordinator, second season).
Despite the great attendance — Mizzou ranked in the top 10 in attendance nationally — the Tigers had another largely disappointing season in 2025-26, going just 28-29 despite an improved 9-15 in SEC play. With the departure of wildly unappreciated graduating pitcher Cierra Harrison (#TeamCC), graduating defensive outfield stalwart Kayley Lenger and promising outfield defensive subs in Nevaeh Watkins (transfer) and Haidyn Sokoloski (graduation), this team has massive portal needs. Luckily, despite some early entrants to the portal from role players who didn’t see a lot of playing time, they appear to have retained the services of a young core in two-way star and Freshman All-American Abby Carr, Sidney Forrester, and Addy Waits, to complement junior Madison Uptegrove. Veteran pitcher Marissa McCann, catcher Stefania Abruscato and Abby Hay, all seniors, figure to return as well, though the portal did just officially open on June 8 for undergraduates.
